Warren: U.S. research fund cuts could be 'real problem'
Massachusetts is vulnerable to cuts in federal funding for medical, scientific and engineering research under a Republican-controlled Congress, according to Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
Warren told host Jon Keller during an interview that aired on WBZ-TV Sunday that she's pitched the importance of research funding repeatedly during her time serving in the U.S. Senate.
"One on one, Republicans and Democrats say, 'Yeah, I get it. I hear your pitch. Yeah. Makes sense.' But then the question is, put the money on the table. And then the answer is 'Can't find it. Not there. No. Won't do it.' "
During debates over the basic functions of government, Warren said she makes the case for medical research funding due to the personal and financial impacts of diseases like Alzheimer's and diabetes and because of the nation's growing elderly population. "We need to be doubling down on medical research but it's hard to get the money," she said. "It's hard to get the money in Washington."
In 2014, research organizations throughout the Massachusetts 2nd Congressional District received over $165 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health. These awards included $131 million to the UMass Medical School in Worcester and $2.9 million to WPI.
Asked about areas of funding beneficial to Massachusetts that might be vulnerable to spending cuts pushed by Republicans, Warren said the GOP has made clear that they are willing to support across-the-board spending cuts, including reductions in spending on medical research, Head Start programs and Meals on Wheels.
After Keller said he was concerned that Massachusetts could see its share of the federal medical research funding pie dwindle as money flows to "red states," Warren said that as long as funds are awarded based on merit, "Massachusetts is going to do just fine."
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